We need a Roon, Rafa

FERNANDO TORRES has told Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez: We need a Wayne Rooney.

Kop striker Torres is convinced Manchester United ace Rooney was the difference between the teams last season as the Red Devils swept to a third successive Premier League title.

Liverpool came up four points short in second place - but Torres insists he should have been part of a title-winning team.

The 17-goal Spanish hotshot believes had Rooney - or even Carlos Tevez - been lining with him and Steven Gerrard, they would have added the much-needed aggression Benitez's Anfield machine lacked.

United captured their 18th league crown to equal Liverpool's record and Torres now fears their arch-rivals will increase their title haul unless Benitez signs someone with the genius of England ace Rooney.

Torres, 25, said: "We lack players like Rooney and Tevez who can drop back between the lines of attack and midfield and cause havoc for opposing defences and midfields.

"We lost the title because of not winning enough home games against sides who ended up mid-table.

"Liverpool need a player like David Silva and Andres Iniesta - players who can drop deep, find unexpected space, use a bit of quality and open up a game.

"Rooney and Tevez are the kind of footballers who pull defenders and holding midfielders into places they don't want to be.

"At home, United and Liverpool get sides who just want to get men behind the ball and defend.

"The key to winning those precious home points is having someone to unlock and uncomplicate that kind of match.

"Premier League defenders aren't unbeatable, they are physically very hard but undisciplined.

"It can be hard to create chances but if you pull them out of position they are more vulnerable.

"That's why sides like United and Chelsea are so competitive.

"Their back fours are so disciplined and well-ordered. But, generally, any Premier League side which complements its defensive attributes with a touch of real quality up front suddenly becomes super-competitive."

Whether this season brings domestic or European glory will not be the deciding factor over Torres' future.

He said: "My biggest influence before playing for Rafa was Luis Aragones at Atletico Madrid. Luis was a real ball-buster if you weren't fully focused but Rafa doesn't get as personal.

"Luis is a motivator who puts his entire personality into pushing you on but Rafa tries to use more professional management - he's always looking to improve every little detail in your game.

"He wants to improve every second you have on the pitch, every individual move you make in a game - but he wants you to understand why, too.

"Rafa's not a guy who just says 'Do that because I tell you to'. It's not like that. He'll say 'Do it for this reason. Do you understand?'.

"If you don't, he'll explain it all over again until you do. That's Rafa.

"I remember when I was first signed from Atletico there was a lot of doubt about me being a natural goalscorer and I was harshly criticised for not being prolific.

"But Rafa said 'I signed you to score and you will. I want you to play closer to the penalty box, that's where you'll get your goals'.

"He told me the wings were for the wingers and my job was to bother the central defenders.

"In fact, the entire process of coming to England has changed my perspective on life hugely in the last couple of years.

"I'm enjoying life much more since joining Liverpool.

"Coming here stripped away a tremendous weight of responsibility which was pursuing me every step of my life at Atletico.

"Basically, moving to Liverpool has given me back my quality of life.

"From the outside it must have seemed that a Madrid boy doing well at his own club... well, life was perfect. But it wasn't. I wasn't happy and Madrid was killing me.

"I couldn't go to the cinema, I couldn't go shopping and if the team was off form I was enveloped in constant anxiety.

"At Liverpool it's the opposite. We are winning most of the time, you can get out and about in the city and people show you respect."